Second Reading: Heb 9:24-28
Dear friends we are in the thirty-second
Sunday of the Ordinary Time. The protagonists of this Sunday liturgy are the widows
of the ancient times. In those days the most pitiable people, whose lives were
in utter misery are the widows. It is precisely because of this, special stipulation
is given in the book of exodus for the Israelites to care for the orphan and
the widows (Ex 22:22-24). The loss of the husband means loss of everything; the
woman has no one to support her livelihood. The situation is worse if the widow
is with child. Thus, no one will look up to the widows for help or any favour. The
widows are the receivers and beneficiaries.
Conversely, in today’s
liturgy the receivers – the widows – turn out to be givers. In the first
reading, we have a widow at Zarephath with a small boy who is preparing a last
meal before she and her son could enter into a state of hunger amidst famine
and die thereafter. Elizah is sent to that widow to get his meal. Earlier this prophet
was sent to the wilderness after having pronounced famine in Israel. He was fed
by ravens in the wilderness (1 Kgs 17:2-6). Now he is sent to a widow to get
his meal. It is highly impossible for people in those days to seek a help from
the widows. Prophet Elijah believed that the Lord God could work wonders even
from the least in the society. At first the widow rejects the proposal of the Elijah
to give him some food (1 Kgs 17:12). However, the prophet promises that her concern
will be met once she has filled his stomach. The widow also believes the statement
of the prophet. It is noteworthy that the widow is not an Israelite. She has no
compulsion nor any authentic reason to obey the prophet, yet she does. And we
know the result; the oil and the flour never run short for the widow (1 Kgs
17:16).
In the gospel also we have a
widow who puts two copper coins in the dumb box. As a widow she may give
regular taxes but beyond that the widow is not expected to give anything. This widow’s
offering in the temple treasury is the result of her generosity and total
surrender to the providence of God. When others offered gifts from their
surplus, this poor widow offers gifts from making her livelihood at stake. Jesus
contrasts this event with the behaviours of the scribes who give more
importance to publicity by wearing long robes, receiving greetings at public
places and preferring best seats at banquets. They devour the houses of widows
whose lives are already in misery. Yet the widows are complacent with their
small possession. The people who devour the little wealth of the poor go around
as religious which is a hypocrisy. Jesus condemns this hypocrisy and praises
the utmost trust of the widow in God. The widow despite unjust treatment from
the Jewish leadership is not hostile to God. The unjust behaviours of the
guardians of the faith are in no way a stumbling block for the widow to lose
faith in God. This is a great lesson for this century which points out the failures
and infidelity of the religious leaders as the reason for losing one’s faith in
God. The simple widow teaches not only to trust in God during utmost poverty,
but also to have faith even if one receives harsh treatment from the guardians
of the faith.
These two widows are not just
models to have faith in God when one is materially weak. They are symbols for having
total trust in God in moments of trails and temptations. The widow of Zarephath
has all the reasons to refrain from offering a help to the prophet. The widow in
the temple has no obligation to give any offering. Yet, both show something
extraordinary which this world may call it as absurd. The famine and wilderness
setting of Zarephath and poverty of the widow in the gospel symbolize one’s utter
spiritual suffering. In a situation like Job of the Old Testament, these two
widows offer hope that they could not just be receivers but also be givers. This
is the greatest lesson one can learn today; in the midst of severe suffering, pain
and loss we need not look only for consolation, mercy and material support,
rather we can also reach out to others by becoming a source of consolation, mercy
and support. Instead of looking for what we can get in utmost spiritual
wilderness we should open ourselves to where we could still give something. Poverty
and spiritual dryness need not limit us to be receivers. They can very well be
a source for giving in much. The widow of Zarephath and the widow in the temple
gave very little yet they are great in the eyes of God. They are still
remembered for their little contribution. Those who give everything will be
given more (Mk 10:29-30). In poverty (Material and spiritual) let us move from being
receivers to givers. Let us give from little so that it may become much in
giving. The Responsorial Psalm assures that the Lord preserves the fidelity forever.
He secures justice for the oppressed (Ps 146:6-7).
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